Diese Seite in deiner Sprache

English

فارسی

العربية

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Startseite
Lernen
Ukrainian
Vokabeln
прибирати

A1 verb 9 Min. Lesezeit

прибирати

To make a place clean and tidy

At the A1 level, 'прибирати' is one of the essential 'daily routine' verbs. Learners focus on the simplest meaning: tidying a room. You will learn it alongside nouns like 'кімната' (room), 'будинок' (house), and 'іграшки' (toys). The goal is to be able to say 'Я прибираю' (I am cleaning) or 'Мама прибирає' (Mom is cleaning). At this stage, don't worry too much about the complex metaphorical meanings; just focus on the physical act of tidying your immediate environment. You will also learn the present tense conjugation: я прибираю, ти прибираєш, вони прибирають. It's a key part of describing what you do at home on the weekends. You might also encounter it in simple commands like 'Прибирай!' (Clean up!). Understanding that this word is about order rather than just washing with water is the most important takeaway for a beginner. It's about making things look neat and putting them in their proper place.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'прибирати' with more frequency and in combination with other household tasks. You should be able to distinguish it from 'мити' (to wash) and 'чистити' (to brush). You will likely use it with adverbs of frequency, such as 'часто' (often), 'рідко' (rarely), or 'щотижня' (every week). For example: 'Ми часто прибираємо у вітальні' (We often clean in the living room). You will also start using the past tense to describe chores you have done: 'Вчора я прибирав весь день' (Yesterday I was cleaning all day). This level also introduces the concept of cleaning up after someone or something using the preposition 'за' + Instrumental case: 'прибирати за котом' (cleaning up after the cat). You'll also learn the nouns 'прибиральник' and 'прибиральниця' for people whose job it is to clean. The focus remains on physical spaces, but the variety of those spaces expands from just your room to public areas like parks or offices.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

By B1, you should be comfortable with the aspectual pair 'прибирати' (imperfective) and 'прибрати' (perfective). You'll use 'прибирати' to describe the ongoing process or a repeated habit, and 'прибрати' when you want to emphasize that the cleaning is finished or will be finished. For example: 'Я буду прибирати (process) до вечора, але я обов'язково приберу (result) все до твого приходу'. You will also encounter the word in more professional contexts, such as 'прибирати робоче місце' (tidying the workspace) or 'прибирати територію' (cleaning the grounds/territory). You might start hearing it in more idiomatic expressions, like 'прибирати до рук' (to take something into one's hands/seize control). At this level, you can also use it to describe clearing a table ('прибирати зі столу') or removing objects from a path. Your understanding of the word becomes more nuanced, recognizing it as a tool for both physical and organizational management.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the B2 level, 'прибирати' starts to appear in more abstract and metaphorical contexts. You will see it used in news articles or literature to mean 'to remove' or 'to eliminate.' For instance, 'прибирати перешкоди' (removing obstacles) or 'прибирати зайві деталі' (removing unnecessary details). You should also understand the reflexive form 'прибиратися' in its sense of 'to dress up' or 'to adorn oneself,' which is a distinct but related meaning. In complex sentences, you might use the participle form 'прибраний' (tidied/cleaned). You'll also encounter more sophisticated idioms and phrasal uses, such as 'прибирати хвіст' (to stop boasting or to behave oneself). Your ability to use the word should now extend to digital organization, like 'прибирати файли на комп'ютері'. You are expected to choose between 'прибирати' and its more specific synonyms (like 'впорядковувати' or 'опоряджати') depending on the formality and exact nature of the task.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the C1 level, you explore the stylistic nuances of 'прибирати'. You will recognize its use in classical and modern literature where it might carry a more poetic or archaic weight, sometimes meaning 'to adorn' or 'to deck out' a room for a celebration. You will also understand its use in legal or administrative language where it can mean the formal removal of a person from office or the striking of a clause from a document. You can discuss the cultural implications of 'прибирання' in Ukrainian society, such as the 'Subotnyk' tradition or the gendered expectations often associated with domestic work. You should be able to use the word in high-level debates about urban management, environmental cleanup, or organizational restructuring. Your mastery includes knowing when 'прибирати' is too simple a word and when a more technical term like 'реорганізовувати' (reorganize) or 'ліквідовувати' (liquidate/eliminate) is required. You can also play with the word's polysemy in creative writing.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the C2 level, your understanding of 'прибирати' is near-native. You are aware of its deepest etymological roots and how they connect to other '-бирати' verbs (like 'вибирати', 'добирати', 'збирати'). You can analyze how the meaning of 'taking' evolved into 'tidying' through historical linguistic shifts. You recognize 'прибирати' in the most obscure idioms and can use it with perfect precision in any register, from slang ('прибрати' meaning to kill or remove someone in a criminal context) to the most formal academic or diplomatic speech. You can appreciate the word's use in poetry where the 'cleaning' of the soul or the 'tidying' of thoughts is a central theme. You can also navigate the subtle differences between 'прибирати' and its regional variants or synonyms in different Slavic languages. Essentially, the word is no longer just a vocabulary item but a flexible tool you can use to express complex ideas about order, removal, and preparation across all domains of human experience.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

прибирати in 30 Sekunden

Primarily means to tidy up or organize a physical space.
Imperfective verb used for habits and ongoing cleaning processes.
Can also mean 'to remove' or 'to clear' something from a spot.
Used in idioms to mean 'to seize control' or 'to behave'.

The Ukrainian verb прибирати is a fundamental word that every learner must master early on. At its core, it means 'to tidy up,' 'to clean,' or 'to put things in order.' Unlike the English word 'clean,' which often implies scrubbing with soap and water (which in Ukrainian is more specifically мити), прибирати focuses on the act of organization and removing clutter. It is an imperfective verb, meaning it describes the process, the habit, or an ongoing action of cleaning. Whether you are talking about your bedroom, a messy desk, or an entire house, this is the verb you will use most frequently to describe the routine of maintenance. It conveys a sense of bringing harmony to a physical space that has become chaotic. In a broader sense, it can also mean to remove something from a place, like clearing dishes from a table.

The Domestic Context: In a typical Ukrainian household, прибирати is the standard term for chores. It encompasses dusting, vacuuming, and putting toys or clothes back where they belong. It is the verb parents use when telling their children to fix their rooms: "Прибирай у своїй кімнаті!" (Clean up your room!).
The Removal Context: Beyond just tidying, it can mean 'to take away' or 'to clear.' For instance, after a meal, you might 'прибирати зі столу' (clear the table). In more formal or even sinister contexts, it can mean to remove someone from a position or to 'eliminate' an obstacle.

Кожної суботи ми всі разом починаємо прибирати наш великий будинок.

Translation: Every Saturday we all start tidying our big house together.

Interestingly, the word shares a root with 'брати' (to take). The prefix 'при-' adds the nuance of bringing things 'to' their proper place. This helps visualize the action: you are taking items and placing them where they belong. In modern digital Ukrainian, you might even hear people talk about 'прибирати' their desktop or email inbox, showing how the word has evolved from physical spaces to virtual ones. It is a versatile, high-frequency verb that appears in literature, daily conversation, and professional settings alike. Understanding its nuances allows you to communicate effectively about daily routines, expectations, and the state of your environment. It is not just about dirt; it is about order.

Він допомагає мамі прибирати іграшки після гри.

Translation: He helps mom put away toys after playing.

Professional Usage: In hotels or offices, a cleaning person is often called a 'прибиральник' (male) or 'прибиральниця' (female). The service itself is 'прибирання'. When you see a sign that says 'Триває прибирання', it means 'Cleaning in progress'.

Using прибирати correctly requires understanding its grammatical patterns. It is a first-conjugation verb ending in -ати. This means its endings follow a predictable pattern in the present tense. Most importantly, it is a transitive verb, which means it usually takes an object in the Accusative case (the thing being cleaned or put away). However, it can also be used with the preposition 'у' (in) or 'в' to indicate the space being tidied. For example, 'прибирати кімнату' (cleaning the room - direct object) and 'прибирати в кімнаті' (cleaning in the room - locative context) are both common and slightly change the focus from the object to the location.

Present Tense Conjugation

Я прибираю (I clean)
Ти прибираєш (You clean)
Він/Вона прибирає (He/She cleans)
Ми прибираємо (We clean)
Ви прибираєте (You all clean)
Вони прибирають (They clean)

Чому ти ніколи не прибираєш на своєму столі?

Translation: Why do you never tidy up on your desk?

When using it in the past tense, it follows the standard gender-based endings: прибирав (masculine), прибирала (feminine), прибирало (neuter), and прибирали (plural). This is the tense you'll use to describe what you were doing all morning. For future intentions without a specific end-point, use the compound future: я буду прибирати (I will be cleaning). If you want to focus on the result, you would switch to the perfective прибрати (я приберу). This distinction is vital for sounding natural in Ukrainian.

Ми прибирали в саду весь ранок, поки не пішов дощ.

Translation: We were cleaning in the garden all morning until it started to rain.

Common Prepositional Phrases

Прибирати за собою: To clean up after oneself.
Прибирати з-під носа: To take something from right under someone's nose.
Прибирати до рук: To take control of/seize something.

In Ukraine, you will encounter прибирати in a variety of social and professional settings. One of the most common places is within the family unit. Saturday mornings in many Ukrainian homes are traditionally dedicated to 'велике прибирання' (the big cleaning). You'll hear family members negotiating who will vacuum, who will dust, and who will 'прибирати на кухні' (clean in the kitchen). It is a word associated with responsibility and domestic order. In schools, students are often expected to 'прибирати в класі' (clean in the classroom), fostering a sense of community and shared space.

Оголошення: Просимо прибирати за своїми тваринами у парку.

Translation: Notice: Please clean up after your pets in the park.

In the service industry, this word is ubiquitous. If you stay at a hotel in Kyiv or Lviv, you might see a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on one side and 'Будь ласка, приберіть у номері' (Please clean the room) on the other. Note the switch to the perfective imperative 'приберіть' there because it's a specific request for a completed action. However, the staff members are 'прибиральники', and their job description is 'прибирати приміщення'. In restaurants, you'll see waitstaff 'прибирати посуд' (clearing dishes) as soon as customers finish their meals. It is a polite and necessary part of the service flow.

Public Spaces: Signs in parks, malls, and public transport often use this verb. 'Прибирайте сміття' (Clean up/Take away the trash) is a common sight. It appeals to the civic duty of keeping the environment clean.

Адміністрація просить прибирати робочі місця перед виходом з офісу.

Translation: The administration asks to tidy up workspaces before leaving the office.

Finally, in the news or political discourse, you might hear 'прибирати' used metaphorically. For example, 'прибирати корупційні схеми' (to remove/clean up corruption schemes) or 'прибирати зайві податки' (to remove unnecessary taxes). Here, the word moves from the physical realm of dust and brooms to the abstract realm of systemic improvement. It implies a 'cleaning out' of things that shouldn't be there, much like clearing clutter from a room.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is using прибирати when they actually mean 'to wash' or 'to brush.' In English, 'clean' is a catch-all term. You clean your teeth, clean the floor, and clean your car. In Ukrainian, these are distinct actions. If you say 'Я прибираю зуби,' a Ukrainian speaker will look at you with confusion, wondering if you are organizing your teeth in a drawer. For teeth, you must use чистити (to brush/clean a surface). For things involving water and soap, like floors or cars, мити is usually more appropriate, though прибирати can include the overall process of cleaning the room that contains that floor.

Mistake 1: Confusing with 'Мити' (To Wash): Incorrect: Я прибираю посуд (if you mean washing it).
Correct: Я мию посуд (I am washing the dishes).
Note: 'Прибираю посуд' actually means you are putting the clean dishes away in the cupboard or clearing them from the table.
Mistake 2: Aspect Confusion: Incorrect: Я прибираю кімнату за годину (I will clean the room in an hour - implies completion).
Correct: Я приберу кімнату за годину (I will have the room cleaned in an hour).
Explanation: Use the perfective 'прибрати' for completed actions or specific results.

Не кажи «я прибираю обличчя», кажи «я вмиваюся».

Translation: Don't say "I am cleaning my face," say "I am washing my face."

Another mistake is the reflexive form. Прибиратися exists, but it often means to dress up or adorn oneself, rather than to clean oneself. If you say 'Я прибираюся,' you are telling people you are getting ready and putting on nice clothes, not that you are scrubbing your skin. This nuance is a common trap for beginners. Always remember: прибирати is about the environment, while other verbs handle personal hygiene or specific cleaning methods like scrubbing or washing.

Вона прибирає на столі, а не миє його.

Translation: She is tidying up the table, not washing it.

Mistake 3: Overusing for 'Remove': While 'прибирати' can mean 'to remove' (like removing a hand), if you mean 'to delete' a file on a computer, use 'видаляти'. If you mean 'to take off' clothes, use 'знімати'. Using 'прибирати' for everything you 'take away' is a very English-centric mistake.

Ukrainian has a rich vocabulary for cleanliness and order. While прибирати is the most general term for tidying, other words offer more specificity. Understanding these alternatives will make your Ukrainian sound much more sophisticated and precise. For example, if you are specifically talking about sweeping the floor with a broom, you should use підмітати. If you are using a vacuum cleaner, the verb is пилососити. If you are focusing on making a place look beautiful and decorated while tidying, you might use чепурити.

Прибирати vs. Мити: Прибирати: General tidying, putting things in place, organizing.
Мити: Specifically using water and/or soap to clean a surface (floors, dishes, windows).
Прибирати vs. Чистити: Чистити: To clean by scraping, brushing, or removing a layer (cleaning shoes, brushing teeth, peeling vegetables). It focuses on the surface of an object.

Замість того щоб просто прибирати, вона вирішила капітально вимити всю підлогу.

Translation: Instead of just tidying up, she decided to thoroughly wash the entire floor.

When you want to emphasize the removal aspect of 'прибирати', you might consider усувати (to eliminate/remove an obstacle) or видаляти (to delete/remove a part of something). For example, a doctor would 'видаляти' a tooth, not 'прибирати' it. In a garden, you 'полеш' (weed) the beds rather than just 'прибирати' them, though 'прибирати бур'яни' is also possible. The choice of verb depends entirely on the method and the object. Using прибирати is always a safe bet for general tidying, but these alternatives add color to your speech.

Other Related Verbs

Опоряджати: To trim, arrange, or put in order (often used for gardens or buildings).
Ладнати: To fix or put in order (colloquial).
Підтирати: To wipe up a small mess or spill.

Він допоміг впорядковувати архівні документи в бібліотеці.

Translation: He helped organize the archival documents in the library.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

Neutral

Informell

Child friendly

Umgangssprache

Wusstest du?

The root '-бирати' is found in dozens of Ukrainian verbs, all relating to the act of taking or gathering. 'Прибирати' is unique because it evolved specifically into the concept of 'tidying' based on the idea of putting things 'near' (при) where they belong.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /pry-by-ra-ty/

US /priːbiːˈrɑːtiː/

The stress is on the third syllable: прибирАти.

Reimt sich auf

грати (hraty) мати (maty) знати (znaty) співати (spivaty) читати (chytaty) чекати (chekaty) кохати (kokhaty) літати (litaty)

Häufige Fehler

Stressing the first syllable (PRY-by-ra-ty).
Pronouncing 'и' like English 'ee' (it should be more like the 'i' in 'bit').
Aspirating the 'p' too strongly.
Pronouncing the 't' as a flap (like in 'water').
Mumbling the final 'y' sound.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Easy to recognize in texts due to its common root and prefix.

Schreiben 2/5

Requires remembering the -ати conjugation and spelling with 'и'.

Sprechen 2/5

The 'и' sound and stress placement can be tricky for beginners.

Hören 1/5

Very common in daily speech, making it easy to pick out.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

брати кімната дім щодня робити

Als Nächstes lernen

прибрати (perfective) мити чистити пилососити брудний

Fortgeschritten

впорядковувати опоряджати дезінфікувати утилізувати реорганізовувати

Wichtige Grammatik

Imperfective Aspect

Я прибираю (I am cleaning/I clean regularly).

First Conjugation Verbs

Ти прибираєш, вони прибирають.

Accusative Case for Direct Objects

Я прибираю кімнату (room is in Accusative).

Locative Case with 'в/на'

Вона прибирає в будинку (house is in Locative).

Instrumental Case with 'за'

Він прибирає за дітьми (children are in Instrumental).

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Beispiele nach Niveau

Я прибираю мою кімнату кожного дня.

I clean my room every day.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Мама прибирає на кухні.

Mom is cleaning in the kitchen.

Present tense, 3rd person singular with preposition 'на'.

Діти, прибирайте іграшки!

Children, clean up the toys!

Imperative plural.

Ми прибираємо в суботу.

We clean on Saturday.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Він не любить прибирати.

He doesn't like to clean.

Infinitive after 'любити'.

Ти прибираєш сьогодні?

Are you cleaning today?

Present tense, 2nd person singular question.

Вона прибирає стіл.

She is tidying the table.

Direct object in Accusative case.

Вони прибирають у класі.

They are cleaning in the classroom.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

Вчора ми прибирали весь вечір.

Yesterday we were cleaning all evening.

Past tense plural.

Вона прибирала в саду, коли прийшов тато.

She was cleaning in the garden when dad arrived.

Past tense feminine, imperfective aspect showing ongoing action.

Хто буде прибирати після вечірки?

Who will be cleaning after the party?

Compound future tense.

Прибиральник прибирає коридор.

The cleaner is cleaning the hallway.

Subject-verb agreement.

Вам потрібно прибирати за собою.

You need to clean up after yourselves.

Infinitive phrase 'прибирати за собою'.

Ми рідко прибираємо на балконі.

We rarely clean on the balcony.

Use of adverb of frequency 'рідко'.

Він допомагав прибирати сніг.

He was helping to clear the snow.

Infinitive as a secondary verb.

Ти вже прибирав у своїй шафі?

Have you already been cleaning in your closet?

Past tense masculine question.

Ми прибираємо офіс щоп'ятниці перед вихідними.

We clean the office every Friday before the weekend.

Habitual action in the present tense.

Важливо прибирати зайві речі, щоб мати простір.

It's important to remove unnecessary things to have space.

Abstract use of 'remove/clear'.

Вона прибирала документи зі столу, коли задзвонив телефон.

She was clearing documents from the table when the phone rang.

Past continuous sense in Ukrainian (imperfective).

Чому ти не прибираєш за своїм собакою?

Why don't you clean up after your dog?

Prepositional phrase 'за' + Instrumental.

Нам довелося прибирати все сміття після пікніка.

We had to clean up all the trash after the picnic.

Infinitive after 'довелося'.

Він прибирає волосся з обличчя.

He moves the hair away from his face.

Physical removal/movement.

Прибирати в хаті — це не лише обов'язок, а й задоволення.

Cleaning the house is not just a duty, but also a pleasure.

Infinitive used as a subject.

Скільки часу ви зазвичай прибираєте?

How much time do you usually spend cleaning?

Inquiry about duration of an imperfective action.

Компанія почала прибирати корупційні схеми зсередини.

The company began removing corruption schemes from within.

Metaphorical use for elimination.

Він прибирав до рук владу в регіоні дуже швидко.

He was seizing power in the region very quickly.

Idiomatic expression 'прибирати до рук'.

Майстер прибирає зайвий метал з деталі.

The craftsman removes excess metal from the part.

Technical removal context.

Вона довго прибирала докази своєї присутності в кабінеті.

She spent a long time removing evidence of her presence in the office.

Imperfective focus on the duration of the task.

Прибирати перешкоди на шляху до успіху — це важка праця.

Removing obstacles on the path to success is hard work.

Abstract noun-like infinitive.

Ми прибираємо застарілі слова з нашого словника.

We are removing obsolete words from our dictionary.

Linguistic/Abstract context.

Вони прибирали територію навколо заводу протягом місяця.

They were cleaning the area around the factory for a month.

Duration with 'протягом'.

Прибирай руки від моїх речей!

Get your hands off my things!

Imperative meaning 'remove'.

Уряд поступово прибирає торговельні бар'єри між країнами.

The government is gradually removing trade barriers between countries.

Political/Economic register.

Він прибирав свій кабінет до святкового прийому з особливою ретельністю.

He was tidying his office for the festive reception with special care.

Context of preparation and adornment.

Поліція прибирає незаконно встановлені кіоски з вулиць міста.

The police are removing illegally installed kiosks from the city streets.

Administrative action.

Вона прибирала з пам'яті всі болючі спогади про минуле.

She was removing all painful memories of the past from her memory.

Psychological/Metaphorical use.

Редактор прибирає зайві коми, щоб зробити текст легшим.

The editor removes unnecessary commas to make the text lighter.

Stylistic removal.

Прибираючи в хаті, ми часто прибираємо і у власних думках.

While tidying the house, we often tidy up our own thoughts as well.

Adverbial participle 'прибираючи'.

Мистецтво прибирає все випадкове, залишаючи лише сутність.

Art removes everything accidental, leaving only the essence.

Philosophical register.

Він прибирав до рук кожну можливість, яку давало життя.

He seized every opportunity that life gave him.

Idiomatic 'прибирати до рук' in a positive sense.

Автор майстерно прибирає межу між реальністю та вигадкою.

The author masterfully removes the boundary between reality and fiction.

Literary analysis register.

Прибирати хаос у державі — завдання не для слабких духом.

Tidying up the chaos in the state is a task not for the faint of heart.

High-level political discourse.

Він прибирав хвіст перед начальством, намагаючись здатися скромним.

He was 'tucking his tail' (behaving submissively) before the bosses, trying to seem humble.

Advanced idiom 'прибирати хвіст'.

Смерть прибирає всіх без винятку, не дивлячись на статки.

Death takes everyone without exception, regardless of wealth.

Archaic/Philosophical 'takes away'.

Прибирати завали після землетрусу довелося протягом багатьох місяців.

The clearing of rubble after the earthquake had to be done for many months.

Context of disaster management.

Він прибирав до рук спадщину предків, нехтуючи інтересами родини.

He was seizing his ancestors' inheritance, neglecting the family's interests.

Negative idiomatic usage.

Осінь прибирає ліс у золоті шати.

Autumn decks the forest in golden robes.

Poetic use meaning 'to adorn/dress'.

Прибирати інформаційний шум — критична навичка в епоху постправди.

Removing information noise is a critical skill in the post-truth era.

Modern sociological context.

Häufige Kollokationen

прибирати квартиру

прибирати ліжко

прибирати зі столу

прибирати іграшки

прибирати територію

прибирати сміття

прибирати волосся

прибирати робоче місце

прибирати сніг

прибирати докази

Häufige Phrasen

Прибирати за собою

Час прибирати

Прибирати в хаті

Прибирати руки

Прибирати з очей

Велике прибирання

Прибирати в класі

Прибирати на столі

Прибирати зайве

Прибирати листя

Wird oft verwechselt mit

прибирати vs мити

English speakers use 'clean' for both, but 'мити' is specifically with water.

прибирати vs чистити

Used for surfaces, teeth, or shoes. 'Прибирати' is for spaces.

прибирати vs збирати

Means 'to collect' or 'to gather'. 'Прибирати' is 'to tidy'.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Прибирати до рук"

To seize control of something, often greedily or illegally.

Він прибрав до рук всю компанію.

informal/negative

"Прибирати хвіст"

To stop being arrogant, to behave submissively, or to hide one's tracks.

Після зауваження він швидко прибрав хвіст.

informal

"Прибирати з дороги"

To remove someone or something that is an obstacle.

Вони намагаються прибирати конкурентів з дороги.

neutral/figurative

"Прибирати під мітлу"

To clean everything out completely, leaving nothing.

Грабіжники прибрали все під мітлу.

colloquial

"Прибирати до ніг"

To subjugate someone or make them completely dependent.

Вона прибрала його до ніг.

informal

"Прибирати вітрила"

To slow down or reduce one's ambitions/activity.

Тобі варто трохи прибрати вітрила.

figurative

"Прибирати язика"

To stop talking or be careful with what one says.

Прибирай язика, коли розмовляєш зі старшими!

informal/rude

"Прибирати на той світ"

A euphemism for killing someone.

Його хотіли прибрати на той світ.

slang/criminal

"Прибирати в голову"

To take something into one's head (to decide something firmly).

Він прибрав собі в голову, що він геній.

colloquial

"Прибирати пиху"

To lower someone's pride or ego.

Життя швидко прибирає пиху.

literary

Leicht verwechselbar

прибирати vs прибрати

It is the perfective pair of 'прибирати'.

Use 'прибирати' for the process or habit. Use 'прибрати' for a finished result or a one-time action.

Я прибираю (habit), я приберу (result).

прибирати vs прибиратися

Reflexive form.

Usually means to dress up or adorn oneself rather than clean oneself.

Вона прибирається до свята (She is dressing up for the holiday).

прибирати vs вибирати

Similar root and prefix structure.

Means 'to choose' or 'to select'.

Я вибираю сукню.

прибирати vs забирати

Similar root and prefix structure.

Means 'to take away' or 'to pick up'.

Він забирає дитину зі школи.

прибирати vs підбирати

Similar root and prefix structure.

Means 'to pick up from the floor' or 'to select/match'.

Я підбираю ключі.

Satzmuster

Я прибираю [Noun-Acc]

Я прибираю дім.

[Name] прибирає в [Noun-Loc]

Мама прибирає в кухні.

Ми часто прибираємо [Noun-Acc]

Ми часто прибираємо сад.

Він прибирав [Noun-Acc] вчора

Він прибирав клас вчора.

Треба прибирати за [Noun-Ins]

Треба прибирати за котом.

Вона прибирає [Noun-Acc] зі столу

Вона прибирає тарілки зі столу.

Прибирати [Abstract-Acc] з [Noun-Gen]

Прибирати рекламу з сайту.

Прибираючи [Noun-Acc], ми [Verb]

Прибираючи кімнату, ми знаходимо старі речі.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

Registriere dich kostenlos, um alle Beispiele zu sehen

So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high in daily life and domestic contexts.

Häufige Fehler

Я прибираю зуби. → Я чищу зуби.
You don't 'tidy' your teeth; you 'brush/clean' them with a tool.
Він прибирає підлогу водою. → Він миє підлогу.
If water and soap are involved, 'мити' is the correct verb.
Я прибираю за годину (meaning 'I will finish'). → Я приберу за годину.
The imperfective 'прибираю' cannot express a completed future action.
Я прибираюся в кімнаті. → Я прибираю в кімнаті.
'Прибиратися' often means 'to dress up', which can lead to funny misunderstandings.
Вона прибирає одяг (meaning 'taking off'). → Вона знімає одяг.
'Прибирати' means to put away or tidy, not to remove from one's body.

Tipps

Aspect Pair

Always learn 'прибирати' along with 'прибрати'. This helps you switch between talking about the process and the result effortlessly.

Specific Verbs

If you are sweeping, use 'підмітати'. If you are vacuuming, use 'пилососити'. Using specific verbs makes you sound more like a native.

Saturday Routine

Mentioning 'суботнє прибирання' (Saturday cleaning) is a great conversation starter with Ukrainians about household habits.

The 'Y' Sound

Make sure the 'и' in 'прибирати' is distinct from 'і'. It's a deeper, more neutral sound, like the 'i' in 'sit'.

Digital Tidying

You can use 'прибирати' for your desktop or files to sound modern. 'Я прибираю на робочому столі комп'ютера'.

Root Connection

Notice the '-бирати' root. It appears in 'вибирати' (choose) and 'збирати' (collect). They all involve 'taking' or 'handling' things.

Cleaning After Others

Use 'прибирати за [Instrumental]' to talk about cleaning up after pets, children, or guests.

Professional Terms

In a professional setting, refer to cleaning as 'клінінг' (imported) or 'санітарне прибирання' for high formality.

Visualizing Order

Visualize the 'при-' prefix as 'bringing to'. You are bringing objects 'to' their home.

Imperative Use

When asking someone to clean, 'прибирай' is a bit of a command. 'Будь ласка, прибери' (perfective) is often perceived as more of a specific request.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine you are 'PRYing' items off the floor and 'BEARING' (бирати) them to their proper shelves. PRY-BY-RA-TY.

Visuelle Assoziation

Picture a room divided in half: one side messy, the other side neat. A giant broom is moving from the messy side to the neat side, and on the broom, it says 'ПРИБИРАТИ'.

Word Web

кімната сміття порядок віник пилосос субота мама чистота

Herausforderung

Try to say 'Я прибираю' every time you put something back in its place today. See how many times you can use the word in context.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Old East Slavic root '-бирати', which is a frequentative form of 'брати' (to take). The prefix 'при-' indicates proximity or bringing something to a state. Thus, 'прибирати' literally meant 'to take things to their place'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To bring together, to take to oneself, to arrange.

Indo-European -> Slavic -> East Slavic -> Ukrainian.

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using the idiomatic 'прибрати' in a criminal context, as it can mean to 'eliminate' someone.

English speakers often use 'clean' for everything. Ukrainians distinguish between 'tidying' (прибирати), 'washing' (мити), and 'brushing' (чистити).

The concept of 'Subotnyk' (community cleaning). Ukrainian folk songs about girls cleaning the 'svitlytsia' (parlor). Modern Ukrainian ads for cleaning services like 'Kabanchik'.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

At Home

Прибирати ліжко
Прибирати в шафі
Прибирати іграшки
Прибирати на кухні

At Work

Прибирати робоче місце
Прибирати документи
Прибирати в офісі
Прибирати за собою на кухні

In Public

Прибирати сміття
Прибирати територію
Прибирати за собакою
Прибирати парк

Eating

Прибирати зі столу
Прибирати брудний посуд
Прибирати крихти
Прибирати серветки

Abstract/Digital

Прибирати файли
Прибирати помилки
Прибирати рекламу
Прибирати зайве

Gesprächseinstiege

"Як часто ти прибираєш у своїй квартирі?"

"Ти любиш прибирати під музику чи в тиші?"

"Хто у вашій родині зазвичай прибирає на кухні?"

"Які речі тобі найважче прибирати?"

"Чи прибираєш ти свій робочий стіл щовечора?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Опиши свій ідеальний день прибирання. З чого ти починаєш?

Чому, на твою думку, важливо прибирати в громадських місцях?

Як ти почуваєшся, коли закінчуєш прибирати великий безлад?

Напиши про те, як прибирання допомагає тобі впорядкувати думки.

Розкажи про традицію великого прибирання у твоїй країні.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Not exactly. While 'прибирати' can include the whole process of cleaning a room (including the floor), the specific act of washing with water is 'мити підлогу'. If you just say 'я прибираю', people assume you are tidying up clutter.

No. For teeth, you must use 'чистити зуби'. Using 'прибирати' would sound like you are putting your teeth away in a box.

They are very similar. 'Прибирати кімнату' treats the room as the direct object of the cleaning. 'Прибирати в кімнаті' focuses on the room as the location where the cleaning is happening. Both are correct.

Use the phrase 'прибирати за собою'. For example: 'Будь ласка, прибирайте за собою' (Please clean up after yourselves).

It is neutral and can be used in any setting, from talking to a child to writing a professional cleaning contract.

In some digital contexts, you might hear it, but 'видаляти' is the correct and more common word for 'to delete' a file.

It is a person whose job is to clean, such as a janitor or a housekeeper.

Use it when you want to emphasize that the cleaning is done or will be done. 'Я прибрав кімнату' means 'I have finished cleaning the room'.

Yes, in older or poetic Ukrainian, it can mean 'to adorn' or 'to deck out' a room, but this is less common in modern daily speech.

Use 'прибирати зі столу'. For example: 'Допоможи мені прибирати зі столу після обіду'.

Registriere dich kostenlos für Tipps & Notizen